Circle of Blue WaterNews
Circle Of Blue
Founded in 2000 by leading journalists and scientists, Circle of Blue provides relevant, reliable, and actionable on-the-ground information about the world’s resource crises.
With an intense focus on water and its relationships to food, energy, and health, Circle of Blue has created a breakthrough model of front-line reporting, data collection, design, and convening that has evolved with the world’s need to spur new methodology in science, collaboration, innovation, and response. To document emerging and recognized crises, Circle of Blue collaborates with leading scientists and data experts. Through its partnerships, Circle of Blue then dispatches top journalists to map and define the region where the change is occurring. Making connections from localized occurrences to global trends, Circle of Blue publishes these reports online — free of charge — to inform academics, governments, and the general public, catalyzing participation across disciplines, regions, and cultures.
With an intense focus on water and its relationships to food, energy, and health, Circle of Blue has created a breakthrough model of front-line reporting, data collection, design, and convening that has evolved with the world’s need to spur new methodology in science, collaboration, innovation, and response. To document emerging and recognized crises, Circle of Blue collaborates with leading scientists and data experts. Through its partnerships, Circle of Blue then dispatches top journalists to map and define the region where the change is occurring. Making connections from localized occurrences to global trends, Circle of Blue publishes these reports online — free of charge — to inform academics, governments, and the general public, catalyzing participation across disciplines, regions, and cultures.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 2, 2020 • 5min
Michigan Senate Race & Water
This is an excerpt of the November 11, 2020 episode of What's Up With Water.
With the U.S. Senate majority at stake in the 2020 election, nearly every race has become a battleground. That’s the case in Michigan, where incumbent Democrat Gary Peters is being challenged by Republican John James. Polls of likely voters show Peters up by six to nine percentage points. National super PACs on both sides have spent a total of more than $65 million. To defend their seat, the Democratic Senate Majority PAC has spent twice as much as the Republican Senate Leadership Fund.
While Covid and the economy dominate debates, Michigan has another defining issue: water. The state is surrounded by the Great Lakes and grappling with aging infrastructure and the chemical contamination of its lakes, streams, and groundwater.
Nov 2, 2020 • 10min
What's Up WIth Water - 11.2.20
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: negotiations resume for Nile dam dispute, record dryness in the western United States, and carbon-capture technology could worsen water scarcity. Plus, a CoB story on Senate race in Michigan.
Oct 27, 2020 • 11min
Trump Administration's First Term And America's Water
This is an excerpt of the October 26, 2020 episode of What's Up With Water.
A number of water advocates and analysts say that during its first term, the Trump administration has pursued revisions to environmental rules that will harm the nation’s waters.
Bob Irvin is president and chief executive of the conservation group American Rivers. He told Circle of Blue “President Trump loves to say that he wants crystal clear water. But his administration has adopted policies that will result in dirtier water across the country.”
Oct 26, 2020 • 16min
What's Up With Water - 10.26.20
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: Stories on pollution from France's largest dairy, growing glaciers in southern Asia, and a mining proposal in Georgia. Plus, a CoB story on what the Trump administration has meant for water.
Oct 19, 2020 • 6min
CARES Act & Water Debt Relief
This is an excerpt of the October 19, 2020 episode of What's Up With Water.
In Michigan, residents who are behind on their water bills will soon be getting some relief. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will provide over $20 million to 116 water utilities, through an intermediary.
Though the number of customers with overdue water bills is rising because of the pandemic, many states have had difficulty using CARES Act funds to assist these people.
Oct 19, 2020 • 11min
What's Up With Water - 10.19.20
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: illegal gold mining in the mountains of eastern Zimbabwe, fires in the Pantanal exemplify the threat of drought for wetlands, and women in Africa report harassment while collecting water. Plus a CoB story on Michigan using CARES Act funds for customer water debt relief.
Oct 12, 2020 • 7min
CDC Public Health Service Act & Water
This is an excerpt of the October 12, 2020 episode of What's Up With Water.
Two Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform asked the CDC to suspend water service disconnections nationwide as a way to slow the spread of Covid-19. Representatives Harley Rouda of and Rashida Tlaib want the federal government’s top public health agency to use its authority under the Public Health Service Act. To protect public health, they want the CDC to prohibit water utilities from shutting off service to customers who are behind on their bills.
Oct 12, 2020 • 11min
What's Up With Water 10.12.20
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: Hurricane Delta damages Louisiana water systems, Japanese fishing industry objects to dumping radioactive water in the ocean, and teachers in Zimbabwe strike over inadequate coronovirus prevention. Plus CoB story on congressional reps asking CDC to impose a national moratorium on water shutoffs during the pandemic.
Oct 5, 2020 • 7min
What's Up With Water - 10.5.20
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: stories on Egypt's new initiative to reduce water use for agriculture starts to bear fruit, UN human rights expert calls on Columbian government to suspend operations at one of the world's largest coal mines, a controversial natural gas pipeline gets federal permits to build across streams, and drought in New Hampshire is causing hundreds of wells to go dry.
Sep 28, 2020 • 17min
What's Up With Water - September 28, 2020
Your "need to know" news of the world's water from Circle of Blue. This week: a land reclamation project in the Mekong River in Cambodia gets little scrutiny and researchers in Minnesota receive a federal grant to scale up production of a new grain variety that could decrease nutrient pollution in Midwest waters. The CoB feature reports on a water controversy in Michigan around another farming-related pollution source: manure from dairies and livestock operations.
